BSDH Degree Completion Program

Program Overview

This program offers an opportunity for dental hygienists to further their education beyond the Certificate or Associate degree level. As a student in the online Bachelor’s of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) degree completion program you can anticipate a remarkable experience that provides a unique opportunity to share the Christian and service values embodied by Loma Linda University. BSDH students will take coursework enabling them to value the “wholeness” perspective of Loma Linda University. This program is specifically designed to provide learning opportunities for dental hygienists to further their education which will enable the graduate to enter the fields of dental hygiene education or public/community dental health services. 

Program Goals

The Loma Linda University Dental Hygiene Degree Completion program offers an opportunity for dental hygienists to further their education beyond the Certificate or Associate’s degree level. This online program is designed to guide students in developing the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values necessary for positions of responsibility in a variety of healthcare, educational, research and community settings. 
 
This program will: 

• Provide the student with knowledge to successfully apply critical thinking and evidence-based decision making in all aspects of dental hygiene practice.
• Equip the student with the skills to teach in public/community health or educational settings.
• Prepare the student to effectively communicate in diverse settings utilizing a variety of methods. 
• Advance student awareness of wholeness and ethics in educational or public/community health settings.
• Foster student commitment to lifelong learning and career development.

Degree Format

Taking approximately 18 months (6 quarters) to complete, this BSDH degree completion program builds on the dental hygiene core competencies that students have already acquired in a certificate or associate program. There are no clinic sessions in the traditional sense, but rather this online program is designed to guide students in developing the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values necessary for positions of responsibility in a variety of healthcare, educational, research and community settings. This program offers the challenge and quality of a traditional classroom, yet provides the flexibility to fit learning in to the life of the busy dental professional. Students can study at their own convenience, learn in small groups with expert faculty and meet career goals at their own pace, while attending classes in a virtual classroom from any location that has internet access.

Admission Requirements

Basic requirements and credentials for admission include:

• Graduation from a dental hygiene AS or certificate program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
• Successful completion of the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination
• Successful completion of a state or regional clinical board examination
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. To be a competitive applicant, a 3.3 GPA or higher is preferred

Degree requirements for Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene:
Transfer units: Maximum from junior college-105 quarter units.
Transfer units: Senior (4yr) college/university-49 quarter units and/or Credit by Exam.
LLU courses: Minimum 40 quarter units.
Total units needed for BSDH degree-192 quarter units.
Tuition for 2011-2012 school year: $567 per quarter unit
Textbooks/manuals: Approximately $800 for 6 quarter program

All applicants must apply online at http://www.llu.edu/apply between July 1 and May 1 for a mid-September start date.  For more information or questions about the BSDH degree completion program contact the Office of Admissions.

School of Dentistry
Office of Admissions
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California 92350
(800) 422-4558 or (909) 558-4621
admissions.sd@llu.edu


Dental Hygiene BS Completion Major Requirements

Core Courses: (required by both tracks)
DNES 305 Etiology and Management of Dental Caries
DNHY 390 Introductory Statistics
DNHY 391 Introduction to Grant Writing
DNHY 421 Research I
DNHY 422 Research II
DNHY 425 Educational Psychology for Health Professionals
DNHY 441 Principles of Education I
DNHY 464 Web-based Techniques
DNHY 498 Dental Hygiene Directed Study
DNHY 499 Research Writing
RELR  457 Christian Ethics and Health Care
RELT  423 Loma Linda Perspectives

Teaching/Education Track:
DNHY 436 Legal and Ethical Principles in Education
DNHY 442 Principles of Education II
DNHY 444 Teaching Practicum
DNHY 446 Principles of Clinical Instruction Techniques
DNHY 478 Advanced Clinical Concepts

Public/Community Health Track:
DNHY 428 Health Care Management
DNHY 419 Essentials of Public Health
DNHY 437 Ethical Principles in Public Health
DNHY 449 Treating the Special Needs Patient
DNHY 484 Legal Issues in Health Care

Disclaimer: The School reserves the right to modify or change admission standards or requirements at any time without prior notice and effective immediately. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and does not create any agreement or understanding or establish any rights or responsibilities whatsoever between LLU School of Dentistry and any student or prospective student.